The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-10-06

II
pa, he thought different. and ma Joined
in with him. She most generally
does. don't know as learnt much.
Ever be IN out our wayP
al have never had that pleasure"
| Burton contrived to say.
swell, it's . very good place, if it
amt so big as some. There's consid-
cradle going on most all the year.
There'd ben two sociables the week
before I come away, and there was
| going to be a concert that night. l
hated to miss it. Do you have much
going on here?
Burton took out his watch and
| dazedly consulted it.
1--WE have no sociables or concerts,
he responed, grimly.
| And then he rose.
| al am sorry to be obliged to go; but
1 have an engagement at twelve" he
said, bowling.
He would have retired without fur
Their ceremonies, but Dora's sister in
tercepted him with out-stretched hand.
"GoodnessI you hain't ben here
above fifteen minutes" she said, re-
gretfully. ''Well, come in again
drop in any time. I don't know jest
how long FIJI be here-long as Dora'l
keep me, l s'pose."
/
dence, accompanying him to the door,
and standing by while he put on his
hat and overcoat.
| He was aware as he went rapidly
down the street, that she was standing
in the doorway and watching his de-
| parture.
He spent the rest of the day in try
| ing to forget Dora's sister, but he
found it not altogether possible; he
had been too deeply astonished and hor-
rified. He had not expected much, he
reflected somewhat wrathfully over a
| cigar in his office; but what he had
| found! And Dora's description! Sure
| ly love-and sisterly love particularly
SOGs blind.
He was glad it was the night of
| ellis reception. If anything was cal
| culated to remove unpleasant impress
| sions, it was one of the ellis recep-
tons. He wondered, with qualm,
whether Alfred and Dora would go
and take Miss Trumbull. OF course
they had cards. Well, at least he
could keep at safe distance.
Almost the first person he saw. as
he entered the ellis spacious but
crowded rooms, was his sister-in-law.
She greeted him eagerly.
1--WE were so afraid you wouldn't
/
| good time, and it will be so much
nicer to have somebody she knows.
You'll have her out for the first set,
won't you, unless she's engaged?"
''hfis Trumbull is here?" said Bur-
ton wretchedlyP"
"Why, yes, of courseP" Dora re-
| Joined briskly. There she is.
| Doesn't she look lovely?-and she's
taking so we'll! Mr.. Sanford has been
with her ever since we came, and he
never looks at a girl. But 1 don't
want him to get the first set, Burton,
| dear. Do hurryY
She took his arm and led him over to
| the group she had been watching, and
tripped away.
The group was composed of one
young lady and six gentlemen; and
the young lady was Dora's sister.
She smiled on Burton graciously,
and went on talking to Mr.. Sanford,
who looked radiant, bestowing an oc-
| casional smile upon one of the other
| five young men, who in turn looked
happy.
She wore a charmingly-fashioned,
perfectly-fitting and wonderfully pref
ty gown, and she looked dazzling
pretty herself. Her sole ornament
was bunch of roses at her corsage.
She waited her black gauze fan gen.
tly, and sparkled across it in all the
glory of bright eyes, white teeth, and
pink cheeks.
''Oh, don't know that I am pre-
pared to admit that, Mr.. Sanford"
she was saying, with 8 light laugh.
! ''Fm aware of the vanity and shallow
ness of society in general; but don't
admit that every individual composing
socity is vain or shallow. l believe
that n good share of the pleasure
seekers are as serious at heart as the
cynics and pedants who hold aloof.
l believe that a certain amount of
social gaity is necessary to ones hap
piness-yes, and welfare. Emerson
owns its value. Don't you remember
that passage in his Culture"
The orchestra in the next room
struck up at that moment Miss
Trumbull looked at her opponent
brightly.
Nov, Mr. Sanford. you will dance
this quadrille as gaily as any of us.
| and it won't prove your unworthiness
either. We shall see your theories
confuted In practice"
She laughed mischievously. Mr..
Sanford, with an enraptured smile,
eagerly offered his arm; SO did the
other five young men, frantically.
But Burton quietly intercepted them
all. He placed Miss Trumbull's hand
within his elbow, with a firmness
which was not to be ignored, and bore
her away. He did not take her to the
| dancing-room; he led her to a sofa in
a dim corner of the deserted hall, and
sat down beside her.
''Weli?" he said, simply.
Miss Trumbull put her fan to her
| lips. There was silence for a space
IL don't know what made me do
it." Dora's sister murmured, with
queer mixture of apology and defiance
| in her soft voice, and with her eyes
cast down. "Only-Dora had told
| me all about you"
$50 you remarked this morning."
Burton interposed, with an attempt at
sternness.
Dora's sister laughed guilty.
''And got the idea-I don't know
| how; she didn't say so, and I don't
think now that it is so-that YOU were
well, proud and naughty as the
novels say; and when she begged me
to be just as nice as / could, because
| you were so particular, and talked SO
much about how-how nice you are"
said Miss Trumbull, with a blush,
"why, it made me feel contrary right
away, and that ridiculous idea Oc-
CURED to me, and-and did it"
The corner was dim; but he saw
| quite plainly the pretty repentance
and pleading in her eyes; and Dora's
sister saw a full forgiveness in his.
They laughed together somewhat
shylY.
'.Where did you get the-the things0
he queried, gazing ct he- perfect at
tire.
''Oh, the dress was Dora's-she's
so much stouter, you know-and the
beads are the babY's, and hunted all
through my boxes for the ribbons!
| That's what took me SO long"
''And your knowledge-you fibbed
/ about that?" Burton questioned, NOV
i ing nearer to her.
Eyes. Madame Beauce finished
me. And you fibbed about your en-
/ gagement at twelve?"
Eyes" Burton confessed, inwardly
/ wondering how he could have done it
How pretty she wasi
ssThen we're eyen!p said Dora's sis